'Stand By Me' Singer Ben E King Dies At Age 76

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Legendary soul and R & B singer Ben E. King has died at age 76, according to his booking agent.

King is most famous for the 1961 solo hit 'Stand By Me.'

Born Benjamin Earl Nelson, he initially joined a doo-wop group called The Five Crown. King later rose to fame in the late 1950's with The Drifters, with songs including 'There Goes My Baby' and 'Save The Last Dance For Me.'

King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of The Drifters. The National Recording Registry added King's original performance of "Stand By Me" to its permanent collection, joining other recordings judged to be "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."

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